In memoriam: Dr. Peter Busher

25th October, 1949 – 25th July 2025 

 

Peter was the first person to track beavers by tagging them with radio transmitters. His research in the Quabbin Reservation in Central Massachusetts, populated by 150 to 300 beavers, constitutes the longest-studied population in the United States. In June 1974, he fitted radio transmitters on beavers, beating the University of Massachusetts group by a year. His many publications date back to the 1970s and extend to as recently as 2022.

 

Peter attended the first ever International Beaver Symposium in Helsinki, Finland in 1982 and attended every one thereafter up to and including the Symposium in Braşov Romania, in 2022. From the early days he was involved in organising these meetings, eventually taking on the role as the Chair of the Scientific Committee. He was crucial for the arrangement of these meetings and is likely one of the key reasons the International Beaver Symposium is still held on a regular basis despite a lack of formal society or permanent organisational body.

 

When he died this summer, he was still working on a project – always a scientist and researcher at heart. His mind never gave up exploring the world he loved so much. Sadly, in December 2023, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, otherwise known as ALS, and died at the end of July 2025 – still a part of the International Beaver Symposium Scientific Committee, and still very keen to know about the presentations and program.

 

So, it with great sadness, yet unwavering friendship and respect, that we acknowledge Dr. Peter Busher for his role in organizing these symposia, inspiring our research in the past and into the future, and for being a true friend to so many of us. To acknowledge his tremendous influence in the world of beaver research specifically, and mammal research more broadly, we named the student research awards in his honour.